Wayne County Career Center capstone project leads to job at HealthPoint in Wooster

Published: February 3, 2013 4:00AM

SMITHVILLE -- Justin Gasser has found his niche at Wooster Community Hospital's outpatient branch, HealthPoint in Wooster, as a licensed physical therapist assistant.

While in high school, taking the Wayne County Schools Career Center Exercise Science and Sports Medicine program, he did a five-week capstone project at HealthPoint, working with a physical therapist.

"As I became acquainted with the facility, I knew I wanted to work here," he said. "I was intrigued by the physical therapy profession, and enjoyed working with people of all ages."

Since earning his associate degree in physical therapy at Stark State College, Gasser is now back at HealthPoint.

The Exercise Science and Sports Medicine program requires a capstone project of all its seniors, who also do clinical hours at many sites above and beyond the class. More than 90 percent of its graduates go on to college or further training in exercise science or sports medicine.

Students can earn up to seven college credits in the Career Center program, and some graduates are doctors, nurses, athletic trainers and emergency medical technicians, according to Andy Nicholson, Sports Medicine instructor, and John Miller, Exercise Science instructor.

The program meets at Wooster High School in the afternoon. Starting in 2013-2014, students who take their academic classes at the Career Center will board a bus to Wooster at 10:45 a.m., eat lunch there and begin their program at 11:30 a.m. They will return to the Career Center early enough to catch the bus back to their home high school.

Students may opt to take their academics at their home high school and drive themselves to Wooster for Exercise Science and Sports Medicine. The program will begin at noon for those students.

Gasser, a 2005 graduate of Ritt-man High School, chose Exercise Science and Sports Medicine because of his love of sports, and because health and fitness was an important and enjoyable part of his life.

The program at Wooster was "very interesting," he said, and gave him a lot of experience in a multitude of career paths in Exercise Science and Sports Medicine.

Gasser took a six-week personal training course at the World Gym in North Canton, then worked as a certified personal trainer throughout three years of college. He noted his interest in working at HealthPoint on his list of clinical experiences, so Stark sent him back to Wooster for one of his final clinicals.

"I was here five weeks full time," Gasser said. "I know the facility, and there is an awesome staff here."

Gasser graduated from Stark, and soon after was hired at HealthPoint. Since then, he has developed a special interest in spine pathology, working in a group of five therapists.

Gasser works with physical therapists to develop programs within the patient's plan of care, using various kinds of technologies and therapeutic interventions.

He plans to continue his education in spine pathology and become trained in the McKenzie Method this spring.

"This is a philosophy of active patient involvement and education for back, neck and extremity issues," he said.

He and his fiancée, Alisha Slater, are planning a wedding in June.

To students considering Exercise Science and Sports Medicine, Gasser said, "It's a great field to get into. It's growing so much." Many colleges have a waiting list of students for physical therapy. The field is very diverse, and offers many opportunities, he said.

"It's very rewarding to see progress in patients," Gasser said. "The Exercise Science program was a great learning experience and helped give me a head start in choosing a career path."

High school sophomores wanting to apply for a Career Center program can get more information at www.wcscc.org, by talking to their guidance counselor, or calling the Career Center guidance office at 330-669-7020.